Reading Passage Question
Historically, a cornerstone of classical empiricism has been the notion that every true generalization must be confirmable by specific observations. In classical empiricism, the truth of “All balls are red,” for example, is assessed by inspecting balls; any observation of a non-red ball refutes unequivocally the proposed generalization.
For W. V. O. Quine, however, this constitutes an overly “narrow” conception of empiricism. “All balls are red,” he maintains, forming one strand within an entire web of statements (our knowledge); individual observations can be referred only to this web as a whole. As new observations are collected, he explains, they must be integrated into the web. Problems occur only if a contradiction develops between a new observation, say, “That ball is blue,” and the preexisting statements. In that case, he argues, any statement or combination of statements (not merely the “offending” generalization, as in classical empiricism) can be altered to achieve the fundamental requirement, a system free of contradictions, even if, in some cases, the alteration consists of labeling the new observation a “hallucination.”
“Historically, a cornerstone of classical empiricism has been ”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Nominees must have a firm understanding of English GMAT reading comprehension. There are 7 comprehension questions in this GMAT Reading Comprehension section.
GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are conducted to examine candidates' skills to decipher, interpret, and utilize knowledge or ideas. Candidates can actively prepare by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- The author of the passage is primarily concerned with presenting
(A) criticisms of Quine’s views on the proper conceptualization of empiricism
(B) evidence to support Quine’s claims about the problems inherent in classical empiricism
(C) an account of Quine’s counterproposal to one of the traditional assumptions of classical empiricism
(D) an overview of classical empiricism and its contributions to Quine’s alternate understanding of empiricism
(E) a history of classical empiricism and Quine’s reservations about it
Answer: E
Explanation: The question inquired as to the main goal. The primary goal of the passage's author is to outline the development of classical empiricism and Quine's concerns with it. In conclusion, the last proper answer is the best one. The remaining choices are all simply wrong because they are either incorrect or the opposite.
- According to Quine’s conception of empiricism, if a new observation were to contradict some statement already within our system of knowledge, which of the following would be true?
(A) The new observation would be rejected as untrue.
(B) Both the observation and the statement in our system that it contradicted would be discarded.
(C) New observations would be added to our web of statements in order to expand our system of knowledge.
(D) The observation or some part of our web of statements would need to be adjusted to resolve the contradiction.
(E) An entirely new field of knowledge would be created.
Answer: A
Explanation: According to W. V. O. Quine, this represents an excessively "narrow" understanding of empiricism. He claims that the statement "All balls are red" is just one strand in a vast web of assertions. And individual observations can only be related to this web collectively. With this interpretation, the first option is the right answer to this question.
- As described in the passage, Quine’s specific argument against classical empiricism would be most strengthened if he did which of the following?
(A) Provided evidence that many observations are actually hallucinations.
(B) Explained why new observations often invalidate preexisting generalizations.
(C) Challenge the mechanism by which specific generalizations are derived from collections of particular observations.
(D) Mentioned other critics of classical empiricism and the substance of their approaches.
(E) Gave an example of a specific generalization that has not been invalidated despite a contrary observation.
Answer: E
Explanation: The final option is the correct answer, and the others are all incorrect answers. Quine's case against classical empiricism would be strengthened if he provided an example. That example must be of a particular generalization that has not been refuted in the face of contrary evidence. Only the final option fits the above interpretation.
- It can be inferred from the passage that Quine considers classical empiricism to be “overly narrow ” (Highlighted) for which of the following reasons?
- Classical empiricism requires that our system of generalizations be free of contradictions.
- Classical empiricism demands that in the case of a contradiction between an individual observation and a generalization, the generalization must be abandoned.
- Classical empiricism asserts that every observation will either confirm an existing generalization or initiate a new generalization.
(A) II only
(B) I and II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
Answer: C
Explanation: Quine believes that classical empiricism is "overly narrow" for two reasons. The first is that classical empiricism demands that our generalization system be free of contradictions. The second is that classical empiricism asserts that every observation either confirms an existing generalization or starts a new one. Because the third option includes both reasons, it is the correct answer.
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